Gaweewat 'Ton-Khing' Chantachitr

A cheeky little boy running around happily, Ton-khing (Ginger Plant) was looked after attentively by his mother at the screening hall. This happy, smiling child certainly grew up in a warm family.

When Ton-khing’s mother got pregnant, she craved stir fried ginger, and that’s how this cheerful boy got his cute nickname. He brightens up and spices up his mother’s life. Ton-khing lives with his grandparents in Srisaket province north of Bangkok while his mother works a teacher’s assistant in Rayong province south of Bangkok; they get to see each other on national holidays and school breaks.

Ton-khing is the second son to his parents and the only one in his family born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. The ultrasound result did not show that the second baby of the family would bear a cleft smile so it was a shock to the family when he arrived into the world. Although his mother was in great sorrow over the deformity, she never stopped trying to find ways to help her son.

His mother searched information about cleft medical treatment. She learned that clefts can be repaired through surgery and ultimately found her way to Operation Smile Thailand’s website. She called and inquired about upcoming medical missions and was informed that the OST medical team from Bangkok would come to Ubon Ratchathani province to provide free surgeries and medical treatment for children and patients with facial deformities. Overwhelmed with happy news, his mother quickly submitted an entire month leave application in order to have sufficient time to take good care of her son before and after the surgery.

Ton-Khing was among hundreds of children and their families who arrived for the initial medical screening, yet his mother was fully confident that her son was in perfect health and a good candidate to safely undergo the surgery. She would not let this blessing of good luck for her son slip away.

The first post-surgery moments when we met his mother again she showed us her son and was overwhelmed with emotion and happiness. She beamed while talking to us and her bright smile moved our hearts. Seeing her once again reminded us how important our work is and how much it can help the children.

Operation Smile Thailand and our amazingly devoted medical volunteers are up and running for the smiles, not only for the patients, but also for their families. Join us and let’s spread more smiles!